Where are all the Christmas lights?

ApacheBob

ApacheBob

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ApacheBob
I don't know if it is the economy or what, but it seems to me like fewer folks are putting out Christmas decorations this year. There was a highly publicized shortage of acorns this year. The number of honey bees was way down. Something is going on.
 
It's been frikin' cold and we've had 3 snowstorms.

I'm planning on rolling out the lights in short bursts by the end of the weekend.

Now I have to buy and cut some pipe for the runway lights. The ground is frozen so putting in the stakes is gonna be a bear. My only hope is 36 degrees on Friday.

Making a note to myself to dig in right after Thanksgiving next year.
 
I bought four new strings of multicolor LED lights and put them up last week. I'm particularly happy that they appear to be far more robust than what I had up before and that they are "guaranteed for life".
 
I have twice as many lights up this year as I did last year.
























































Of course multiplying anything by 0 nets the same result. I plan to double the amount of lights I put up every year.
 
Funny, I'm seeing more lights than ever (or, the past 11 Christmases that I've lived here) in my neighborhood this year. And this is a pretty blue-collar neighborhood. I was wondering whether folks were looking to put a bit of joy in their lives to contrast the bleakness of this Detroit winter.
 
Well, there's a big spike for christmas sales in august or september. I guess people, or their light bulbs, burn out before december. Around here it looks like any other month.

I know christmas and new years is within two weeks when (a) the mall and roads around it are packed solid and (b) people start getting really mean especially when driving.
 
lancefisher said:
I bought four new strings of multicolor LED lights and put them up last week. I'm particularly happy that they appear to be far more robust than what I had up before and that they are "guaranteed for life".
Click to expand...

I used to offer a lifetime guarantee on fire alarms. :rolleyes:

I'm with you, though. I think investing in decent stuff is cheap. If you save an hour of aggravation you're way ahead.

I should watch for deals on brand name LED lights post season. I bought GE lights long ago and they lasted for many years.

I bought some house brand Halloween lights from Walgreens after season for 50% off - like $5 a box. It wasn't such a deal. Only 66% of the new-in-box lights worked. I might be able to salvage two working sets out of the three I bought. :mad3:
 
EdFred said:
I have twice as many lights up this year as I did last year.

Of course multiplying anything by 0 nets the same result. I plan to double the amount of lights I put up every year.
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Bah Humbug!

EdFred - The original Grinch. :rofl:
 
"You're a mean one... Mr. Ed. You have... no Christ-... mas cheer! You would not fly a sleigh, instead you'd fly a plane a doom Mr. Eeeeeeeeeeeed!" (sung to "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch")

Lyrics could use some work, but I think it could make the Top 20 countdown. ;)

For what it's worth, my next door neighbors seem to have outdone themselves this year - every night since Thanksgiving when I try to go to sleep their Christmas lights shine through my curtains. It seems to me there's no shortage of Christmas lights around my neighborhood, if anything more than in years past. Last night, I drove past the neighborhood tacky block that's got enough lights that it could be spotted from space.

Might just be your neighborhood.
 
I was commenting on the abundance of lights this year. Maybe not the huge 10MKw displays like some years, but there is certainly some fairly elaborate displays. It also appears that a few neighbors have a contest going; obviously trying to outdo each other.
This excess I attributed to the overall poor economy where a little brightness improves their individual disposition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3NzWiuC7pE&feature=related
 
I have no lights up outside. Was going to do it on Thanksgiving weekend (actually was going to browbeat my 2 sons into going up the ladder and on the roof) when the weather was warm. Missed that window of opportunity and now it's been too stinkin' cold to even consider it!

My wife compensated by doubling up the inside decorations - she goes a little nuts with the Christmas decorating, but she loves it and we do, too.
 
This year and for about the last ten years, I've put up ALL the lights INSIDE in such a way that they can also be seen from the outside and enjoyed by people passing by.

By placing them around the inside borders of windows a few added bonuses are enjoyed: both in an increase in colors and total light of 2-3X due to the multiple reflections in the thermopane windows plus, a warmer house because none of the electrical energy is wasted in heating the outdoors without first warming the house.
I wouldn't do them any other way now.
 
Put up the same amount as every year. We've got a Victorian-style house, and the original builder put up boards with rows of nails on them all around our wrap-around deck. Takes an hour to string the whole front of the house with lights.

This week, we got hit with a drive-by snowmanning. I was at work, and my wife left the house for an hour to buy groceries. When she came home, there was a snowman in the yard that hadn't been there.
snowman.jpg


I keep wanting to "Calvinize" it. :smile:

Ron Wanttaja
 
Dave Krall CFII said:
This year and for about the last ten years, I've put up ALL the lights INSIDE in such a way that they can also be seen from the outside and enjoyed by people passing by.

By placing them around the inside borders of windows a few added bonuses are enjoyed: both in an increase in colors and total light of 2-3X due to the multiple reflections in the thermopane windows plus, a warmer house because none of the electrical energy is wasted in heating the outdoors without first warming the house.
I wouldn't do them any other way now.
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That's a good idea. I have 9+ windows on the highway.

How do you attach the lights? Cup hooks?

Stop with the good ideas. :D
 
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I just put the Festivus pole up. Preparing for the Airing of Grievances and Feats of Strength.
 
mikea said:
That's a good idea. I have 9+ windows on the highway.

How do you attach the lights? Cup hooks?

Stop with the good ideas. :D
Click to expand...

I just use finish nails put in at an acute angle but for more intricate inside light displays the cup hooks would be better.
 

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haha, i love calvin and hobbes.

and as far as lights, I think that the Joneses live down the street from the Griswolds.
 
I love Calvin and Hobbes, too. Somebody compiled and forwarded to me a big bunch of the Calvin and Hobbes snowmen series - hilarious!!!

I wanted to name my oldest son Calvin Hobbes .... my wife veto'ed the Calvin Kainz - and I probably avoided a lawsuit from the jeans guy...
 
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